Sydney, Jan 2 (IANS) Australia have called New South Wales (NSW) batsman Phillip Hughes as a cover for injured opener Simon Katich for the second Test against Pakistan starting here Sunday.
National Selection Panel (NSP) chairman Andrew Hildtich said Katich, who is also the NSW captain, hasn’t fully recovered from the arm injury he sustained during the first Test in Melbourne.

“The NSP has taken the opportunity to add Phillip Hughes to the Australian squad as cover for Simon Katich, who is struggling from the injury to his arm sustained during the Test at the MCG. A decision on the final make up of the Test team will be taken (Sunday) morning,” Hilditch said.

Australian physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said that a final call on Katich will taken Sunday morning.

“Simon Katich sustained a similar injury to Ricky Ponting when he was struck on the right elbow during the second innings at Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). While he has made some improvement since the end of that game he’s still having difficulty batting. As such we’ll have a final assessment of his batting tomorrow morning,” he said.